From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) has stated that the unions in the state will ensure total compliance with the ongoing strike.
NLC and its sister union, Trade Union Congress, (TUC) had declared an indefinite strike to protest the brutalization of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero in Imo State, despite a court order.
Ajaero had visited the State to negotiate with Governor Hope Uzodimma over the need to reinstate sacked workers and was accused of meddling into the politics of the state.
Speaking to on the strike, Chairman of NLC in Benue, Mr Terungwa Igbe, insisted that Governor Uzodimma must apologize publicly to their National President as well as recall the sacked workers, among other demands that the NLC President had presented during his recent visit to Imo.
He said the strike recorded 80 percent compliance in the state explaining that “We set up a committee and they are going round to ensure compliance. That is the tradition. From NLC there are seven members and TUC seven members. The duration of the strike depends on the Federal Government because there are certain things we are demanding.
“We said the Governor of Imo state, Sen. Hope Uzodimma should apologize publicly to our national President and the staff of Imo state government that were laid off that the national President went to negotiate with him, should be reinstated.
“All the issues that the national President mentioned while in the State should be met. However, the above two are the ones that require immediate action,” Igbe said.
Meanwhile, some civil servants in Benue state have accused labour leaders of embarking on what they termed as “selective” fights and solidarity.
A worker who spoke on condition of anonymity in Makurdi said the labour leaders especially those at the national level were not being fair to those of them in the state.
The visibly angry civil servant recalled that their members have had serious issues in Benue state that required the attention of labour leaders but they neither showed concern nor said a word “But now, they have to suffer Nigerians because the president was manhandled in Imo and some workers were laid off.
“What did the labour do concerning those people recruited by immediate past Governor, Samuel Ortom and were laid off by the present administration?
“Or what did Labour do when workers in Benue were not paid for several months? I’m sure other states may be having their peculiar problems too. What did labour leaders do to address those issues? This is very funny indeed,” he said.
Another worker said “Labour leaders especially in Africa and Nigeria in particular are politicians in disguise. After all the court has given workers right to belong to political parties of their choice. They should not be selective when embarking on strike.
“There are more serious issues in other states particularly North Central States as it concern workers’ welfare but labour has always kept mute.
What did Ajaero do when workers and pensioners in Benue were owed humongous salary and pension arrears? What is good for the goose should be good for the gander,” he added
Another civil servant who also refused to have his name in print however described the strike as a welcome development saying “let it be known to politicians that they cannot just be beating people anyhow. I support the basis on which the protest is called but such concerns should be shown to workers across the nation when the need arise.”